Link cost minimization for portable wireless terminal connectable to the internet

ABSTRACT

A method of reducing the cost of transmitting data from a portable or mobile hand-held data terminal to a remote data receiving station over a wireless communications network by determining the associated data transmission cost for each communication link between the terminal and the station; and selecting a data transmission link from the terminal to the station such that data transmission cost is minimized.

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/827,263, filed Mar. 28, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,747,692.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a portable computing device or terminal, and inparticular a device arranged to link up to the Internet or a privatecomputer network.

2. Description of the Related Art

The Internet computer network is gaining ever increasing significance inthe world of science, technology, information and commerce amongst manyothers. The Internet will be well known to the skilled reader but, inbrief summary, comprises a network of computers practically worldwideand accessible from any access point suitably linked to retrieveinformation contained in the Internet. Various sub-networks exist withinthe Internet, one of the best known of which is the worldwide web.

Information is commonly stored on the Internet in the form of “pages”often comprising a “home page” relating to a general site and providingguidance and access to the contents at that site, the contents beingcontained in “sub-pages”. A site includes a unique Internet Protocoladdress or Universe Resource Locator (URL). The site can thus beaccessed from any access point to the Internet by entering the relevantaddress and displaying the site held at that address. The user accessesthe Internet via a client computer, for example a PC linked to theInternet. The link will typically be via a modem and telephone line anda service provider or server acts as intermediary, the client accessingthe Internet via the server. In addition, the server allows the user toset up an Internet site. It will be appreciated that the servergenerally comprises a fixed station. Such an arrangement can give riseto an unnecessary level of inflexibility. In particular it is often timeconsuming and unnecessarily complex to have to access the fixed stationserver to set up or access an Internet site.

Various developments to Internet related systems have been disclosed inU.S. patents. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,984 relates to a securitysystem for connecting computer networks, U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,162 relatesto a bridge for connecting parallel processors to the externalenvironment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,494 relates to a routing protocol formulticast messages across the Internet, U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,842 relatesto message transmission between firewall servers, U.S. Pat. No.5,410,754 relates to an interface between a wire line carrier and aremote host on a Local Area Network (LAN), U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,335relates to an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)—LAN connectionterminal, U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,283 relates to packet transmission acrossa series of modes in a network, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,237 relates to anetwork of LAN's connected to an ISDN including a plurality ofrouters/sub-routers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,437 relates to a bridge-typedevice for coupling segments of an extended LAN, U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,468relates to a terminal adapter for connecting a LAN and a Wide AreaNetwork (WAN) using an Internet Standard Protocol, U.S. Pat. No.5,276,789 relates to graphically displaying computer network topology,U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,988 relates to a system for classifying duplicatesource address replies, U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,860 relates to a system fordetermining the nodes connected to a computer network and U.S. Pat. No.5,166,931 relates to a system for an inter-network arranged to simplifythe network addressing system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,633 relates to amethod for routing a data packet between a mobile host and a destinationhost via a wireless link between the mobile host and a base station. Thebase station acts as a physical location of the mobile host and islinked to the network via a LAN sub-network.

The mechanism of file name translation across a distributed network areknown, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,652, incorporated herewithby reference.

A range of products have been developed by Spyglass Inc. enhancing theInternet connectivity of existing devices. In particular these productsare designed to connect electronic products to the worldwide web such ascellular phones, cable T.V. set-top boxes, televisions, personal digitalassistants and pagers, providing the infrastructure, applications andservices to allow these devices browsing capability across the Internet.One such product is available under the trade mark REMOTE MOSAIC whichconverts browsing into a client service operation in which lightweight“viewers” are custom-integrated into devices which connect to a “proxybrowser” on a remote server. The proxy browser handles applicationsdemanding excessive process or memory capabilities such as caching andconnects the device to other servers.

In another aspect there are numerous situations in which aninstantaneous image of a scene or object is of considerable use andimportance, for example in insurance claims documentation where it isvital to document as accurately and completely as possible thecircumstances against which the insurance claim is made. Conventionallydetails are documented either in writing or by taking photographs usinga film camera. This information is then subsequently entered with allother information relating to the insurance claim. Such a system is timeconsuming and error-prone, in particular because of the subsequentre-entry of information and transfer of the physical photograph to therelevant file. Similar problems arise, for example, in news coverage ofan incident, police or other authorities' incident reports and so forth.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,994 relates to a multimedia information deliverynetwork system. A wide area transmitter transmits the multimediaprograms which are received by a plurality of network servers forre-transmission to downstream network servers or a user. The programsare cached at the network servers as determined by a scheduler forefficient delivery of the multimedia program to each user.

In another aspect, data terminals connected to the Internet areconventionally required to download applets in an appropriate agentimplementation language from a host which is a complex and slow process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to avoid, mitigate or overcomethe problems associated with prior art arrangements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved datadevice interconnection with the Internet.

Features of the Present Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a data terminalconnectable to, and remote from, the Internet comprising a data inputand an internal server for creating an Internet site representing theinput data and having an Internet Protocol address, the terminal furthercomprising a network link cooperating with the server to provide accessto the site to users elsewhere on the Internet. The system thus providessubstantial benefits as regards speed, efficiency and accessibility.

The Internet site may be a web site. The data input may comprise one ormore of the group of image recordal means, sound recording means, ortext recordal means. The network link may be a wireless network linkcomprising one of the group of a radio frequency link, an infrared IRDAstandard link or a microwave link over a private wireless local areanetwork, or a cellular telephone network.

According to the present invention there is provided a data terminalconnectable to, and remote from, a data network comprising a data input,means for creating a user accessible data site representing the inputdata and having a site address and a network link arranged to receiveaccess requests from users elsewhere on the network addressed to thesite, and provide access to the addressed site.

The network may comprise one of the group of the Internet, an Intranetor a Local Area Network (LAN), for example the network comprising theInternet and the site address comprising an Internet Protocol address.The site comprises a Web site.

The data input may comprise one of the group of image recordal means,sound recordal means or text recordal means, or even a chemical“sniffer” which detects the presence of certain chemicals in the air(e.g. natural gas, or other combustible or hazardous fumes). The datasite creation and access means may comprise a server internal to theterminal. The network link may be a wireless link comprising one of thegroup of a radio frequency link, an infrared IRDA standard link or amicrowave link.

According to the invention there is provided a mobile image recordingunit connectable to the Internet via a wireless link comprising imagerecordal means, a server for creating an Internet site having anInternet Protocol address and representing the recorded image and awireless link arranged to provide site access to requests directed tothe site address.

The server may create respective sub-pages for respective recordedimages and includes a menu setting out the sub-pages on a home page atthe site address.

According to the invention there is provided an Internet site creationand access system comprising a mobile unit including a server arrangedto record images at a given geographical location and create a siterepresenting the image internal to the terminal, wherein the mobile unitcommunicates with the Internet via a wireless link and users access thesite at the mobile unit via the Internet.

According to the invention there is provided a method of creating a website in which a mobile unit records data relating to its immediateenvironment, a server within the mobile unit creates a web site pagerepresenting the data and having an Internet Protocol address, andInternet users access the web site at the Internet Protocol address viaa wireless link between the mobile unit and the Internet.

According to the invention there is provided an image capture and relaysystem comprising a remote still image capture device including anencoder for encoding the captured image as an image data signal and atransmitter for transmitting the image data signal, the system furthercomprising a base station for receiving the image data signal andproviding access to the image data. As a result, prompt access to theimage is allowed at the base station.

The image capture device may comprise a digital camera and many furtherinclude a bar code reader and/or a microphone and/or a user data inputdevice and/or include a printer, preferably arranged to print bar codesymbols or a hard copy version of the captured image.

The image capture device may include a visual display screen and,advantageously means for altering an image displayed on the visualdisplay screen.

According to the invention there is further provided a still imagecapture device comprising a digital camera, an encoder for encoding thestill image as an image data signal, and a transmitter for transmittingthe image data signal by wireless transmission to a remote base station.

According to the invention there is further provided a method ofcapturing and relaying an image comprising the steps of capturing theimage using a remote image capture device, encoding the captured imageas an image data signal and transmitting the image data signal, theencoder and transmitter being provided in the remote image capturedevice, and receiving the transmitted image data signal in a basestation for distributing the image. The image captured may relate to agiven incident and the base station may transfer the received image toan insurance database relating to the incident.

The image captured may relate to the condition of goods prior todelivery and the received image may be transferred from the base stationto a delivery point for comparison with the received goods.

The image captured may relate to the condition of goods to be delivered,the image data signal may be encoded as a bar code symbol applied to thegoods to be delivered, and the bar code symbol may be decoded at thepoint of delivery for comparison of the captured image with thecondition of the goods as received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention may bemore readily understood by one skilled in the art with reference beinghad to the following detailed description of several preferredembodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like elements are designated by identical reference numeralsthroughout several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a terminal according to the present invention arranged tolink with the Internet;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the connection system shown at FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram representing operation of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a data terminal according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 shows an implementation of the data terminal according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing components of the data terminal ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a hand-held data terminal;

FIG. 9 is a detail of a data terminal according to the present inventionhaving highlighting capabilities;

FIG. 10 shows a data terminal according to another aspect of theinvention; and

FIG. 11 shows an alternative configuration for the terminal of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A conventional Internet link is shown referring to the schematic diagramat FIG. 1, and block diagram of FIG. 2 and includes a remote terminaldata device 1 comprising, for example, a lap-top computer, a PC or amobile unit as discussed in more detail below linked to a server 2 via asuitable link 3 which can be a telephone link, incorporating a suitablemodem, a wireless link or a cellular telephone link amongst otherpossibilities which will be evident to the skilled person. The server 2is in turn interconnected via line 4 to the Internet shown schematicallyat 5. When the user wishes to access a web site the web site address isentered at terminal 1 and server 2 brings up the web site 6 at the givenaddress from the Internet 5. Similarly when the user wishes to create asite, the relevant information is entered at terminal 1 and the site iscreated via server 2.

Whilst the system shown in FIG. 1 allows centralised site access andcreation, it will be appreciated in certain circumstances the system iscumbersome, for example where it is desired to create a site veryquickly. In addition, whereas in some circumstances a user will simplyknow what information is sought, and will “browse” through the Internetto find a site containing that information, in some circumstances theuser may be entirely aware of the exact site which he wishes to accessirrespective of the information contained at the site. In that case thecentralised system shown in FIG. 1 can give rise to unnecessary delays.

An improved system according to the present invention is shown as ablock diagram in FIG. 3. Briefly within the client terminal 1 itselfsuitable server software 2 is retained. Accordingly the client is ableto create an Internet site directly, the Internet site 6 being stored atthe server again directly at the terminal 1. The client/server thenaccesses the Internet 5 via a line or wireless link 4. As is well known,the Internet can be accessed generally by access points AP₁ to AP_(N).

As a result the invention allows a Internet site such as a web site tobe set up at the terminal without the requirement of accessing adedicated server, as appropriate server software is included at theclient terminal. When a third party wishes to access the site, they willhave or be able to obtain details of the client server address and canthus access the client server via the Internet.

A particular implementation of the invention arises in relation toclient/servers provided in remote, mobile terminals communicating withthe Internet via an access point with which it is in wirelesscommunication. In that case data is entered at the mobile unit,generally relating to the physical environment at which the mobile unitis presently located such as an image of the surrounding scene. Userswishing to access that data merely need the client/server address. Theaddress is entered at the relevant access point to the Internet and thesite is pulled up directly from the client/server. It will be seen thatthe client/server can include a home page which is actually pulled bythe user, the specific sub-pages at the site being accessible via thehome page, once the home page has been accessed.

The system can use a data terminal of the type designated generally 10in FIG. 5. The central elements to the data terminal 10 comprises adigital camera having a lens 12 and a wireless Internet link 18.

Digital cameras are well known and the detailed structure will beapparent to the skilled man such that a detailed description is notrequired here. Briefly, however, the digital camera includes a lenssystem 12 for focusing an image onto a CCD (charge coupled device)array. The image is thus pixelised and encoded, for example as a bitstream. The encoded signal is decoded and displayed on a visual displayscreen 14 or output as hard copy. A “still” image is obtained in thesame manner but by recording an instantaneous image. The majority of thecomponents of the digital camera are not shown in FIG. 5 for thepurposes of clarity. A CCD camera is preferable over, say, a lasercamera as images can be recorded from a greater distance.

The data terminal 10 further comprises a keyboard 16. In order to recordan image the lens 12 of the data terminal 10 is directed at the scene tobe recorded. This is preferably displayed on the visual display screen14. When a desired image is isolated a button, for example on thekeyboard 16, is pressed and a still image recorded.

In the embodiment shown, the data terminal 10 further includes variousoptional and required components. The principal required component is awireless signal transmitter 18 which, as discussed in more detail below,relays the recorded image to a remote access point for distribution fromthat point. Optionally the data terminal 10 further includes amicrophone 20 for recording, for example, a verbal description of therecorded scene, a bar code reader 22 allowing alternative orcomplementary operation of the data terminal 10, a physical interface 24for downloading of information stored in the data terminal 10 to aterminal to which it is connected by cable or other link and a printeroutput slot for outputting a hard copy of the image, additionalinformation, or as discussed in more detail below, a bar code symbolrepresentative of the stored image. In addition, as discussed above, theterminal further includes server software allowing creation of a website at the terminal. The web site can contain, for example, recordedimages or sounds from the environment of the terminal together with textinput at the keyboard and/or the user's recorded verbal commentary. Afurther feature that can be incorporated into the terminal is a globalpositioning system (GPS) of a known type. The GPS communicates with GPSsatellites via a suitable antenna (not shown). As a result the specificgeographical location of the mobile device can be immediatelyascertained. This can be provided as additional information broadcast bythe device and can also be used by a central tracking system toascertain where all the devices are at a given time.

Once again specific details of the various individual components will bewell known to the skilled reader and, for the purposes of clarity, arenot repeated here.

In order to minimise costs the network architecture is designed tominimise the amount of data traffic over the highest cost communicationlinks. This can be done for example by selecting a communication routewhich utilises the cheapest available lines. Where this can lead todelay a prioritisation system can be introduced ensuring thatcommunications in respect of which delay is unimportant can be sent on acost optimised basis whereas those signals for which the speed oftransmission is important are sent on a urgency basis. For example wherewireless communication gives rise to high costs as against physicalinterface communication, low priority information can be downloadedphysically from the terminal to a cradle to reduce the power andprocessing burden and general cost burden.

An alternative terminal configuration can be based on the arrangementdisclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 08/691,263, filed Aug. 2, 1996,assigned herewith. That specification describes a modular type terminalhaving interchangeable data collection modules, together with a detaileddiscussion of communications between mobile units and the Internet.

The system can be used for coverage of news events. A journalist holdingthe terminal can store images of a news event, and record a report onthe event. A web site can be instantaneously set up at the terminal viathe internal server holding the report and other data. Accordingly auser wishing to find out about the news event merely needs to access thesite via the network. The address could be known to the user or could beavailable from a central site on the Internet disclosing where variousmobile units are located, and providing their site addresses. It will beseen that the technology could further incorporate a pay-per-view typesystem whereby the user is automatically billed for accessing the site.It will be seen that many other applications can be envisaged. Forexample a police report of the scene of an incident, or an insuranceoperative report can be accessed actually on location at the incidentrather than relying on transfer to a stand-alone server for creation ofa web site at that level.

According to the embodiment any suitable form of wireless communicationbetween the client/server and the Internet can be utilised. Such systemsare well known for roaming units, whereby access points to the Internetarranged to receive communications from mobile units are located atvarious geographical points. Known algorithms can be used for selectingwhich access point is the most suitable. The communication can itself beby radio waves or an optical link such as an IRDA Standard Protocol. Itwill be seen that another of the advantages of the system is that thesite is stored at the terminal and need only be down-loaded on demandvia the wireless link thus reducing the cost that would be incurred bytransferring data continuously. Data that is never requested can betransferred over a less costly connection at a later time.

Referring to FIG. 4 a flow chart of the operation of the terminal 1 isshown. At step 110 the desired data, for example an image or an audiorecording is captured. The data is then encoded at step 112 into asuitable format to be rendered as a web page, for example by creating abit map. At step 114 the encoded data is processed to create a suitableweb page according to the desired format, as determined by the serversoftware and any user input. The process can then branch to step 116where the page is stored at the terminal. When a page access request isreceived at 118 by a remote user called up the known address for theterminal the page is displayed at the terminal web site. According to anenhanced system, the process branches at 114 also allowing a specificpage address to be created for the particular data stored in the givenprocess, at step 120. The address and details of the page stored at theaddress are displayed on a home page at step 122. This allows a menu tobe created for the terminal such that more than one page is available.Accordingly when the site is accessed at 124 by a remote user the remoteuser has the option of selecting the relevant sub-page displayed at thehome page at step 126, allowing display of any desired page, returningto step 120. The system thus allows quick and easy operation with noprogramming required and in particular no HTML requirement. Aninstantaneous web page can be set up using the server software, theimage to be displayed being stored simply by pointing the terminal at itand “clicking”. Once again, the system can be designed with costoptimization in mind, ensuring that a minimum amount of data trafficoccupies high-cost communication links.

Referring to FIG. 6 one possible implementation of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention is shown. Where, for example, thepolice or other authorities, or an insurance operative wish to recorddetails of a scene shown generally at 30, the image is captured as astill digital camera image by the data terminal 10 in the mannerdiscussed above. The stored image is encoded, for example as a bitstream and the bit stream is transmitted or relayed via the transmitter18 to a remote point.

In the embodiment shown the image information is relayed fromtransmitter 18 to an intermediate booster transmitter 32. This caneither be one of a network spread across an area or can, for example, becarried in the data terminal user's vehicle or a carrying case. The useof a booster transmitter 32 reduces the broadcast power requirements ofthe data terminal 10 allowing more space to be dedicated to datastorage/processing means or accessories, and increasing the batterylife. It will be appreciated that the booster transmitter is, however,optional and in many cases will not be required. Transmission can takeplace via a RF wireless link microwave or other suitable wirelesscommunication method. Where the vehicle is part of a larger GPSmonitored tracking system the arrangement of the present invention canbe a module incorporated into the system.

Either the transmitter 18 in the data terminal 10 or the boostertransmitter 32 relays the image information to an access point 34including a receiver for receiving the relayed information signal. Thereceived signal is input to a processor/data storage/decoder device 36.The image can then be transferred to any desired device, for example acentral data storage device for the user to access on return to hispremises (for example an Intranet or LAN), or a news and informationnetwork (such as the Internet) where it is desired to broadcast theimage, or to a police or other authorities' information database whereit is desired to record and document the image. The transmitted signalfrom the data terminal 10 may also include information such as thedesired destination of the image, additional information relating to thecircumstances, encoded information representative of recordings of anyverbal messages or recordings of sound messages further explaining thecircumstances as recorded by the microphone 20. Information relating tothe circumstances, or the destination of the image can be input viakeyboard 16.

Where the web page is created on site at the terminal using a internalserver, the transmission system described above can equally be used forthird party access to the web page.

A block diagram showing the components of the data terminal 10 isillustrated in FIG. 7. The data terminal includes various inputscomprising suitable transducers for converting the input signals toelectronic signals. The inputs include the digital camera input 44including a CCD array transducer, an audio signal input 46 including amicrophone transducer and a bar code symbol signal input including, forexample, a CCD array. Each of the signals is input to an encoding ordigitising sub-processor respectively 50,52,54, and the processed signalfrom each sub-processor is transferred to a data storage and processingdevice 56. The data is stored, processed and relayed as appropriate tovarious outputs. Data relating to the image captured by the digitalcamera 44 and, as appropriate, any bar code data or audio data istransferred to a transmitter module 58 and is transmitted as describedabove at output 60. A hard copy of the still image, or, as discussedbelow, a bar code symbol representative thereof is output via printerdrive module 62 and output 64. Where it is desired to download storedinformation via a physical interface this is done at output 66. Inaddition the data store/processor 56 receives information input to thekeyboard 16 via a line 68 and sends the image from the digital camerainput 44 to the visual display screen 14 via line 70. The system as awhole is powered by power supply 72, for example a battery. Where theterminal is configured to create a web page on site, a server can beincorporated in hardware (or software or a combination of hardware andsoftware) as shown at 57.

Accordingly it will be seen that in one aspect the image data can becaptured automatically and transmitted to a common database accessibleto authorised users. The images could be transported and/or accessed viavideo servers, collaborative work group software and distributedmultimedia, and implemented by desktop video teleconferencing.Processing of the image can be carried out on the raw data once it hasbeen transmitted to the main network, allowing a further reduction inthe processing requirements and hence the power and space requirementsfor the data terminal itself.

A particular advantage of using a digital camera is that the image canbe stored at high to medium resolution and transmitted electronicallywith a minimum of intermediate processing.

It will be seen that a wide range of applications are available, inparticular relating to industries generally in which photographic(digital) images are regularly taken in the field. An alternative to theinsurance claims documentation application discussed above, wherebids/estimates were involved the item in respect of which thebid/estimate is provided, documenting for example the work required onthe basis of which the bid or estimate was based could be recorded.Similarly where repair work or improvement work was contemplated, anappraisal could be made taking into account stored images. The systemcould be used as a general aid to documentation of items orcircumstances. As discussed above, the system could be implemented inlaw enforcement. For example the scene of a crime or an accident couldbe stored and relayed or accessed. Indeed felons could be photographedand the image compared against a suitable database for identificationpurposes using known image comparison techniques. The system can also beused as a preliminary aid to more exhaustive documentation ofcircumstances such as proofing and/or test shots. The data is preferablyrelayed as determined by a network architecture designed to reducetransmission costs by minimising transmissions over high-costcommunication links.

As will be seen for all of the above possible applications and all otherapplications the system includes particular and significant advantages,in particular providing immediate access to images for third partiesprivy to the image distribution network, providing access to all userssimultaneously as desired, expediting processing time (as a result ofimmediate accessing), improving accuracy and/or efficiency, as a resultof the availability of more precise information in particular in highresolution implementations, and associated cost savings in particularresulting from decreased processing time and improved accuracy.

Yet a further possible implementation of the arrangement would be as aremote fire alarm or smoke detector. A terminal including the basiccomponents of a digital camera or other image recordal means and networkconnectivity can be permanently or detachably mounted at a zone where itis desired to monitor for fire, smoke, poisonous gases or any other suchhazard. The terminal further includes a hazard detector of any suitabletype such as a smoke detector, a heat detector, a noxious substancedetector or other. All these detectors are well known to the skilled manand do not require further description here. In the case, for example,of a fire alarm terminal, when a heat detector detects that the ambienttemperature has risen over a preset limit the terminal is activated tocapture a still or moving image of the scene. At the same time theterminal notifies the relevant authorities such as the fire services andthe image is transmitted in a manner discussed above to an access pointat the fire station. Accordingly the scene can be reviewed and it can beassessed whether a true fire risk exists or whether other activity towhich the increase in temperature is attributable can be detected suchas cooking activity. As a result false alarms can be to a large extentavoided. It will be seen that a similar approach can be adopted forother hazard detectors, where an image of the scene is transmitted tosuitable authorities when a potential risk is first detected for furtherassessment before full mobilisation.

A further implementation for which the system of the present inventionaccording to a further aspect would be particularly suited and whichwould benefit from the advantages discussed above is in the field ofgoods transfer, for example parcel delivery. When a damaged parcel isreceived there is no way to know immediately the condition of the parcelwhen shipped. The system of the present invention would, however, beable to acquire the image and transmit it to a remote location or createa suitable web page on site. The image could then be accessed at thereceiving depot and compared with the actual received parcel toestablish whether the condition had changed in any way. An alternativeoption would be to print the image information in a bar code format, thebar code itself being attached to the parcel itself. The bar code symbolcould be decoded at the receiving depot, once again to compare the imagewith the received parcel. Evidently a high resolution bar code symbolwill be required, for example under protocol PDF 417. The reader shownin FIG. 5 includes the capability for such an arrangement including aprinter and printer slot 26.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above relate tospecific possible implementation of the invention, and that theinvention embraces a number of alternatives. For example, as shown inFIG. 8 the data terminal 10 is configured with ergonomic considerationsin mind, fitting comfortably into the palm of the user's hand. As aresult the data terminal 10 can be quickly and accurately directedtowards an image to be recorded, using the visual display screen toensure that the image is as desired. At the same time the keyboard canbe manipulated comfortably using the user's other hand to capture theimage, input additional information and so forth. Alternatively theterminal may be in the form of a conventional camera, or a video camera,or any other appropriate configuration allowing image capture, and,preferably, data input.

The digital camera preferably includes auto focus capabilities andmanual zoom capabilities with a separate button/trigger for zooming,which button/trigger may form part of the keyboard or may be providedseparately. The manual zoom feature will assist in taking close-ups ofthe subject to be imaged. As mentioned above, a printer, for example alow density, low quality printer can be included in the data terminal,or provided as an add-on, so that a hard copy of the image is availablein the field. As also discussed above, the image could be printed in PDF417 format for subsequent decoding.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative configuration for a data terminal. Theterminal 10 contains generally all of the components discussed inrelation to the other embodiments herein. However the terminal 10 isconfigured in a “point and shoot” design and includes a grip portion 120and a barrel portion 122. The grip portion is configured to sitcomfortably and easily, with optimum balance, in the user's hand andfurther carries a trigger 124 and a thumb wheel 126. A display 128 andoptional keypad 130 are provided on the upper face of the barrel portion122 to allow easy viewing and input access to the user. The camera lensor other image recordal means are provided on the front face of thebarrel portion 122 (not shown) allowing the user simply to point theterminal 10 in the direction it is desired to record in. When thedesired scene is viewed on a display 128 capture is effected byactivation of the trigger 124. Zoom can be controlled by the thumb wheel126 which is preferably located for optimum ease of use by the user'sthumb when the grip portion 120 is held by the user.

The processing speed and storage capabilities of the components of thedata terminal can of course be determined according to the eventual costof the system, for example a slower and hence cheaper microprocessor canbe incorporated. For more high-end applications the data terminal couldadditionally include an SRAM card to store the still images. In additionthe visual display screen 14 can, as shown in FIG. 9 include LCD (liquidcrystal display) capabilities. Accordingly using a suitable pen 100, theimage can be altered for example by ringing or otherwise highlightingareas of interest, the alterations being represented on the LCD displayas 102 in FIG. 9. The alterations can be deleted or revised additionallyusing the keyboard as appropriate.

The range of implementations, and the speed and efficiency of the systemcan be further enhanced by also incorporating bar code readercapabilities into, or in conjunction with, the data terminal. Theconstruction and applications of bar code readers will be well known tothe skilled man and do not require a detailed description here. Briefly,however, a bar code symbol comprises one or more rows of light and darkregions, typically in the form of rectangles or, for the case oftwo-dimensional codes, in the form of a two-dimensional array of lightand dark spaces. The dimensions of the dark and light regions indicateencoded information to be read. A bar code symbol reader illuminates thesymbol using reading beam generating means and senses light reflectiveon the coded regions using reading beam detecting means to detect thedimensions of the coded regions. A decoder decodes the detected encodedinformation. Known symbols which include, for example, UPC/EAN, Coder128, Codabar and Interleaved 2 of 5.

One known type of bar code reader comprises a data wand as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,471,218, incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 10 shows a data terminal 10 of the type described herein abovefurther incorporating an optical reader 110 incorporated in the dataterminal 10. The reader 110 includes reading beam generating anddetecting means and the data terminal 10 includes processing means fordecoding the detected encoded information. The reader 110 may compriseeither a “flying-spot” laser scanner including means for scanning thereading beam or a “field of view” optical reader including a CCD arrayas detector. Both types of reader will be well known to the skilledreader and a full description of the components and operation is notprovided here.

It will be appreciated that a wide range of implementations can beenvisaged for the data terminal 10 shown in FIG. 10. In particular itmay be useful in many circumstances to be able to read informationencoded in bar codes to adduce additional information to that retrievedby the data terminal from the external environment.

A particularly advantageous embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. Inparticular a book or other printer matter 114 is provided which can becarried by the user including printed bar codes 116 which are read bythe reader 110 and the information contained therein utilised by thedata terminal 10. As discussed in more detail below, the data terminal10 in fact comprises an Internet server capable of creating a web siteat the data terminal carrying, for example, information relating to theexternal environment around the data terminal for access by userselsewhere on the Internet. In such circumstances the terminal mightconventionally wish to download executable code from a host machineusing an agent implementation language such as Java (a trade mark). Thissystem can be cumbersome and time consuming in view of the level ofcommunications required between the client and the host. The presentinvention solves this problem by storing the executable code (applets)in the form of two-dimensional high density bar codes 116 in the book114. Each bar code symbol 116 is identified by a suitable short title orother identifying information in the book. When it is required to accessan applet the user is merely required to read the two-dimensional barcode using the bar code reader 110, and the executable code isimmediately downloaded to the data terminal 10 for the data terminal 10to use it as appropriate.

The invention allows the user to, carry a conventional book—for examplehaving five hundred pages of 2-D applet codes. Such a book would not becumbersome and would indeed be attractive to many users. The systemallows greatly accelerated downloading of applets in as little asfifteen seconds. Conventional downloading systems would still be waitingfor connection to the host in that range of time scale.

It will be appreciated that any suitable executable code could be storedin a desired language in the two-dimensional bar codes 116. A wide rangeof different applets could of course be stored according to this systemand indexed appropriately. Indeed the system could be used for fixed ordedicated clients as well as the remote, mobile client data terminalshown in FIG. 10.

It will be seen that the data terminal can communicate with any suitabledata network, for example an access point to the Internet, or to aclosed dedicated system relating to the user or to which the usersubscribes together with other users. Communication can be by way of RFcommunication or, if appropriate, infrared or microwave communication,or any other suitable wireless communication method.

It will be appreciated that any of the features discussed in relation toone embodiment can, as appropriate, be incorporated in any otherembodiment without departing from the teaching of the presentspecification.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can readily adapt to variousapplications without omitting features that, of the standpoint of priorart, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic orspecific aspects of the invention and, therefore, such adaptions shouldand are intended to be compounded within the meaning and range ofequivalents of the following claims.

1. A method of reducing a cost of transmitting data from a mobile datacollection terminal to a remote host over a communications networkhaving a plurality of channels including a wireless channel, comprisingthe steps of: a) supporting a digital camera on the terminal; b)operating the camera to capture an image; c) determining a geographiclocation of the terminal relative to the host by operation of a globalpositioning system; d) determining the cost of transmitting the data,including the image, from the geographic location of the terminal overeach channel to the host; e) selecting the channel for data and imagetransmission based on the geographic location of the terminal and thecost determined to be least; and f) transmitting the data and image fromthe terminal to the host over the channel selected with the least cost.2. The method of claim 1, and the step of determining a priority for thedata and the image, and wherein the selecting step is also based on thepriority of the data and the image.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinthe image is a bar code symbol.